Another Update

[JenniferG]

You're doing great Jamie. You must be thrilled with the way it's turned out, and relieved it's over.

[golfnut]

Jamie,
Thanks for the update and your information. It sounds like you've turned the corner on the hardest part of recovery. I already am not sleeping at night trying to figure out how and where I'll walk if it's bad weather. Jan. sounded like a good time to have surgery months ago, but now I'm not so sure. My Y has a nice indoor track, but now that I'm hearing many my age do not drive until 12 weeks post-op, I'm going to have to find rides or walk someplace else. Hopefully, we'll have a mild winter! Keep posting, Jamie. It is so helpful!
Jennifer, I just looked at your before and after pictures. It makes me want to have a waistline again! You look great! I will be fused the same as you. Can you twist at all? I want to be able to play golf eventually.

[Lorz]

Jamie

Thank-you for the update. It sounds like you are doing exceptionally well! I am glad the drainage from your incision turned out to be nothing, and that you are feeling so good 3 weeks post-op. I am really thinking next summer it will be "my turn", so posts like yours are really helpful. Take care, and continue to heal. Lori

[foofer]

JamieAnn,

Wonderful to hear from you and thank you from a pre-fusion person for all the detail. We are hanging on every word. I'm sort of fascinated with what happens with all the muscle tissue being moved around and then having it all slowly rebound.

It sounds like your forum reading prepared you well for the physical aspect and the emotional.

Looking forward to hearing from you more!

Lorz- thinking I might be with you on that thought next summer....depends on how this winter goes.

[Debra JGL]

Jamie Ann,
So good to read your updates and see you're doing so well. I haven't been on the forum for a bit, so I'm catching up. From your first update - I had a lot of drainage too. That container kept filling up for most of the time I was in the hospital (5 days) and it was unnerving, but they said it was normal. About the nausea (for those still having surgery) - the doc recommeded I put in a patch (transderm) before surgery to help prevent nausea. With all the other stuff you had to do b4 surgery, this would have been the easiest part. The constipation was very tough in the beginning for me too. I took senecot and colace to help. I felt like I was passing rocks when i first starting going. That's great you're walking alot too. That has helped me I think enormously. Walking definately eased the pain for me, it would be hard to get going and then my back would feel alot better. Again, so glad to hear about your road to recovery.
Debra

[backissues]

I'm so glad to hear your progress. My date for surgery is Dec. 7. I am 65 and don't know if recovery is more difficult the older you are.

I am a very active person and don't always have patience with myself. I know that recovery will take much patience and, from reading the forum, I am understanding the expectations. My fusion will be T8 (9, or 10) to the pelvis.

Do people get to be "pain free" eventually, or is that an unrealistic expectation?

I was thinking about that as I went shopping today and wondering when I could walk through a store and not hurt because I have stood on my feet too long or walked too long.

[JenniferG]

,
Jennifer, I just looked at your before and after pictures. It makes me want to have a waistline again! You look great! I will be fused the same as you. Can you twist at all? I want to be able to play golf eventually.

Karen, I can twist, and I can hit a golf ball no problems, but I am not a golfer, my partner is (a MAD golfer) and he thinks I would play ok if I put my mind to it. Physically, I am sure I could.

I think it would take 12 months though, because it wasn't until 12 months that my flexibility returned, well, most of it.

I certainly don't believe you will have to give up golf.